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WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH 2012

During March, presentations will focus on women’s rights and
the role of activists in our own communities and around the world.

Human rights activist Ahmad Ghashmari, for example, has
started a campaign to mobilize grassroots action against “honor killings” in
the Middle East, including his native Jordan. His live presentations explore
the issue and examine the future of Middle Eastern women in light of the Arab
Spring uprisings.

The seventh annual Audrey-Beth Fitch Women’s Studies
Conference examines international violence against women with presentations by
a special agent from the FBI, a scholar-activist who works with rape survivors
in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and a panel of activists from Cal U.

Activists also spark debate as they share their passions in
TED Talks videos. Their presentations are followed by facilitated discussions
focusing on the worldwide sex trafficking industry and the effects of poverty
in developing nations, especially on women and girls.

Events this month also include Cal U’s annual performances
of The Vagina Monologues, plus a
frank and funny talk by Harlan Cohen, the author of Naked Dating: Five Steps to Finding the Love of Your Life (While Fully
Clothed and Totally Sober).

Schedule of Events

March 1 — Speaker Ahmad Ghashmari

Human rights activist
Ahmad Ghashmari, an instructor at Kent State University in Ohio, leads
campaigns against “honor killings” and speaks out for women’s rights in his
native Jordan and around the world. Learn where honor killings occur, why they
continue and how the Arab Spring uprisings may affect the future of women in
the Middle East.

March 6 — Audrey-Beth Fitch Women’s Studies Conference

March 6 — Audrey-Beth
Fitch Women’s Studies Conference“International
Violence Against Women: The Political is Personal”9 a.m.-4:45 p.m. in the Performance Center

9:30 a.m. — Denise V. Holtz: “Human
Trafficking in the United States”Holtz,
a special agent from the FBI office in Pittsburgh, sheds light on a crime that
affects our region, as well as our nation.

12:30 p.m. — Dr. Lee Ann De Reus:
“Against All Odds: Stories of Hope and Survival in the Democratic Republic of
Congo”A
scholar-activist and an associate professor at Penn State-Altoona, De Reus
travels regularly to the Panzi Hospital in the Democratic Republic of Congo,
where she conducts research and develops programs for rape survivors. Learn
about her work with Congolese women and the Panzi Foundation USA, and about an
ongoing service project involving survivors of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.

2 p.m. — Panel discussion:
“Activists in Action”Activists
speak about their experiences, then show the audience how to get involved.

March 21 — Author Harlan Cohen

Harlan Cohen, the
author of “Naked Dating,” presents a “hilarious, candid and highly interactive
event that reveals a simple five-step approach to finding the love of your life
while fully clothed and totally sober.” The presentation is based on Cohen’s
new book, due out in April. He also is the author of “The Naked Roommate: And
107 Other Issues You Might Run Into in College.”

March 22 — END Violence Against Women

March 22 — END
Violence Against Women11 a.m. in Room 117, Duda Hall

Kay Dorrance, director
of the END Violence Center at Cal U, addresses issues related to violence
against women.

March 27 — i am that girl and human trafficking

Grassroot organizers who work to save women from the sex slave trade will present "Humanitarian Responses to International Human Trafficking."

March 27 — i am that
girlWomen’s History Month
presentation5 p.m. in the multipurpose room, Carter Hall

The group “i am that girl” is dedicated to
creating a positive and supportive community of women through regular meetings
that feature relevant conversations and fun events. This meeting will focus on
Women’s History Month.

March 29 — TED Talk and discussion

Sunitha Krishnan has
dedicated her life to rescuing women and children from sex slavery in India and
around the world. Members of the Cal U Activist Club lead a facilitated
discussion after this video presentation about Krishnan’s work.